Modified Atmospheric Nitrogen Euthanasia

The Australian chicken meat industry is the fastest growing and largest livestock industry in Australia, contributing $8 billion to the Australian economy in 2025. The industry actively creates jobs, invests in innovation and provides Australians with their most preferred source of animal protein, making it vital for regional economic security and national food security.

In the event of an emergency animal disease outbreak, such as avian influenza, it is essential for the industry and government to act quickly and slow the spread of outbreaks to protect animal welfare and prevent wider industry impacts.

To protect the viability of the industry, there is an ongoing need for investment in research and development across all aspects of response preparedness. AgriFutures Australia supports the chicken meat industry by investing in research, development and extension (RD&E) that strengthens industry resilience, including practical tools and systems that enhance preparedness, emergency response capability and biosecurity management.

About MANE

Modified Atmospheric Nitrogen Euthanasia (MANE) provides a rapid depopulation treatment for poultry during emergency disease outbreaks that is practical, scalable and humane compared to other systems. When operated under strict conditions with trained personnel, it reduces work health and safety risks and exposure to zoonotic diseases, as individual bird handling is not required.

During the treatment, liquid nitrogen is introduced into a sealed poultry shed, where it rapidly vaporises into nitrogen gas and displaces oxygen. This results in a controlled reduction in oxygen levels, causing birds to lose consciousness and subsequently die from a lack of oxygen (anoxia).

Nitrogen is recognised internationally as a leading depopulation tool as it has several welfare advantages over other depopulation methods. Birds can remain in their sheds in a familiar environment, avoiding the stress of capture and individual handling. Nitrogen gas is colourless, odourless and tasteless – importantly, chickens lack the ability to detect nitrogen, so the oxygen displacement does not create the ‘air hunger’ response associated with carbon dioxide systems.

The five key principles of MANE are:
1. Assess and seal: The shed is assessed for suitability and sealed to create a controlled low-oxygen environment.
2. Establish a safety zone: Exclusion zones, assembly points and safety controls are established to protect personnel.
3. Deploy nitrogen: Trained operators introduce liquid nitrogen into the shed using specialised delivery equipment.
4. Monitor oxygen levels: Oxygen levels are monitored, or nitrogen exposure maintained for the required period, to ensure humane euthanasia. To protect personnel health, oxygen levels are monitored using personal oxygen monitors.
5. Verify and ventilate: The shed is ventilated, safe re-entry confirmed, and bird mortality verified prior to disposal activities.

Resources

The following resources have been prepared to support and enhance preparedness, emergency response capability and biosecurity management:

• MANE field day presentations
• Standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• MANE brochure
• MANE FAQs
• Shed sealing guide
• Monitoring equipment guide (soon to be available)

Research Development & Extension

Nitrogen is used internationally to respond to emergency animal disease outbreaks. The development of MANE in Australia began following the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Summit in 2024, where nitrogen was identified as a highly practical and cost-effective solution to existing depopulation methods.

Three trials were conducted in 2025 to validate MANE for Australian production conditions, in collaboration with internationally renowned animal welfare experts. The trials consisted of two empty shed ‘calibrations’ followed by a validation trial with live birds. Trials were conducted on commercial poultry farms, informing application methodologies and the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs). This work helped to optimise the application and demonstrated the technical feasibility of MANE under Australian conditions. Trials highlighted the importance of proper shed sealing and low-pressure injection for maximum nitrogen utilisation and humane depopulation.

AgriFutures delivered field days in all chicken meat producing states, providing training to industry and government personnel to support the implementation of MANE in the event of an emergency animal disease outbreak. An important element of the field days was to connect producers with relevant industry partners (including state government representatives, animal welfare officers and liquid nitrogen operators). During field days, participants engaged in simulated applications of the depopulation method.

Safety

MANE is safe for personnel when strict SOPs are followed, and treatment is administered by trained personnel. Key safety measures include:

• Continuous monitoring of personal oxygen, using personal oxygen monitors
• Designated exclusion zones to minimise risks of exposure to low oxygen environments
• Allowing only trained operators to administer the liquid nitrogen
• Ensuring all personnel in the treatment area wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), as per jurisdiction and company requirements
• Conducting pre-operation safety briefings, and roll calls before and after application
• Ensuring emergency response plans are in place

While the SOPs and key safety measures reduce potential hazards, they do not eliminate them. Key hazards that personnel need to be aware of include:

• Oxygen-deficient or low oxygen atmospheres
• Cryogenic burns and exposure to cold vapours
• Machinery, equipment and vehicle risks
• Slips, trips and manual handling risks

AgriFutures research

The AgriFutures Chicken Meat Program invests in RD&E that improves the sustainability, productivity and viability of Australia’s chicken meat industry. The Program’s RD&E Plan 2022-2027 focuses investment across five priority areas: improving environmental sustainability outcomes; enhancing chicken biosecurity, health and welfare; contributing to efficient and secure chicken production systems; ensuring the food safety of Australian chicken meat; and building people capability and a diverse and sustainable workforce.

In practice, this includes research into issues such as water and energy use, climate adaptation, manure and litter management, bird welfare, nutrition and gut health, antimicrobial resistance, pest control, food safety risks, and practical biosecurity tools. The program also supports extension activities – including industry webinars, resources, tools and training – to translate research into usable guidance for growers, processors, researchers and service providers.

This applied RD&E role is particularly important for preparedness and response to animal disease threats such as bird flu, where the program helps build industry resilience through evidence-based biosecurity resources, emergency response and welfare-focused depopulation tools such as MANE, that help industry understand and adopt best practice.

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Bird flu response

In June 2026, a wild seabird with H5 bird flu (avian influenza) was detected in Australia. For the latest information on the bird flu response and cases, visit the Australian Government’s information page.

If you notice sick or dead birds or other animals showing signs of bird flu, you should not touch them. Instead, take photos or videos, record your location and report it to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.